Swing-actuating mechanism



(No Model.)

J A BRUNNER SWING AGTUATING MECHANISM.

No. 545,451. Patented Sept. 3, 1895.

lg/zmwwwwmron BY ZJ ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT firmer.

JOSEPH A. BRUNNER, OF FORT WAYNE-INDIANA.

SWING-ACTU ATING M ECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 545,451, datedSeptember 3, 1895.

' Application filed January 23, 1895- fierial No. 535,882- (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH A. BRUNNER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fort Wayne, in the county of Allen, in the State of Indiana,have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Swing-Aotuating Mechanism; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in swing-actuating mechanismespecially designed and adapted for use in connection with a childsswing.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved means forautomatically actuating a childs swing by the mere Weight of the childor other occupant and which when run down can be rewound for use bysimply relieving the actuating mechanism from the weight of theoccupant.

Another object of my invention is to provide a cheap, substantial, safe,and reliable swing-actuating mechanism which may not only be of greatservice and convenience in the nursery and kindergarten apartments, butwhich can also be used with equal facility and convenience for adults inpublic parks or private grounds.

My invention comprises aclock-train properly mounted in an open frameformed by a pair of brackets adapted to be suspended from the ceiling orother overhead support, having a pair of winding-drums for the swingseatsuspending chains or cables, which are wound thereon under the tensionof a coiled spring on the driving-wheel shaft, and which are unwoundtherefrom at each oscillation of the said swing under the influence ofthe weight of the occupant thereof.

Referring now to the drawings, in which similar numerals of referenceindicate corresponding parts throughout, Figure 1 is a vertical sectionof my improvement on the line X X of Fig. 2, showing the generalarrangement of the actuating clock-train and the oscillating pendulumarbor with the escapement-pawls. Fig. 2 is a front view of myimprovement in position upon the ceiling or other overhead support andconnected to a proper swing-seat by the suspension chains or cables.

All parts of my invention are made of suit able metal and of anypropersize, strength,

and proportions.

The containing-frame consists of a pair of metallic brackets 1, havingat their upper ends vertically-perforated ears for proper holdingscrewsor bolts, and which are rigidly united by the connecting-rods 2preferably four in number, Fig. 1. In the upper part of the saidbrackets 1 is rotatably mounted the horizontal transverse shaft 6,having rigidly mounted upon its extended ends the winding-drums 26, bothof which are outside of the said frame, as seen in Fig. 2.

At a proper point on the shaft 6 is rigidly fixed'a ratchet-wheel 10,adapted for engagement with a holding pawl 18, pivotally mounted on thedrive-wheel 7 as seen in Fig. 1. Upon that side of the saidratchet-wheel nearest the bracket 1 is properly mounted the coil-spring21, having its inner end rigidly secured to the adjacent side of thesaid ratchet-wheel, while its outer end is secured to one of theconnecting-rods 2 or in any other proper manner, Fig. 1. c On theopposite side of the said ratchet-wheel and adjacent thereto is looselymounted the cogged drive-wheel 7, provided with the pivotally-mountedholding-pawl '18, before described. At a proper distance below the saidshaft 6 is loosely mounted in suitable perforations in the said bracketsthe transverse shaft 5, having at or near the center of its length arigid escapewheel 8, and immediately adjacent thereto on the shaft 5 isarranged a rigid pinion 9, adapted for engagement with the said drive-Wheel 7. The said escape-wheel 8 is provided with a series of spacedhorizontal pins 28, at or near the perimeter thereof, of any suitablenumber and which are adapted for engagement with the holding andescapement pawls hereinafter described. The said pins 28 are roundedparticularly upon that portion of their surface engaged by the saidpawls, to facilitate the ease and regularity of the escapement. In thelower end ofthe said frame or brackets and at the rear side thereof isloosely mounted the transverse rock-shaft 3, provided at one end with aholding-pawl 11 brackets 1 at their lower end and near the front sidethereof, as seen in Fig. 1, having at or near the center of its lengthan integral depending arm 22, provided at its lower end 7 with anintegral cross-bar parallel with the said shaft 4, and having theslotted ends 23 adapted to receive and guide the swing-suspending chains27, as seen in Fig. 2, the said shaft-depending arm and crossbarconstituting a sort of pendulum-arbor. The said shaft 4 is provided withthe integral inwardly-projecting oblique lug 24, adapted for engagementwith the said spring 12 to alternately bring the said pawl into aholding engagement with the said escape-wheel, and is also provided witha rearwardly projecting lug 31, Fig 1, adapted to limit the oscillationsof the said arbor by alternately engaging the adjacent transverse rod 2.The said shaft 4 is also provided with an integral upright arm or pawl14, having pivotally mounted upon its free end a spring-pressedinwardlyprojectiug detent 16, loosely mounted on the pivot 17 andprovided with a retractingspring 15, having its upper end secured to theouter face of said detent and having its free end bearing against theshaft 4, as seen in Fig. 1. The said pawl 14 is adapted to normallyengage in turn the pins 28, the function of the said detent 16 beingtoassist in the gradual and noiseless releasing of the said pins 28 whenin operation. The contaming-frame, comprising the said brackets 1, isrigidly secured to the ceiling 30, or other proper overhead support, bysuitable bolts or holding-screws or other proper means.

The upper end of the suspending-chains 27, of any proper length, aresecured to their respective winding-drums 26 and passed through theslotted ends 23 of the bar 25, and have their lower ends properlysecured to any suitable swing-seat 29, Fig. 2,which may be single ordouble and of any desired size. Instead of the said chains 27, anysuitable cord, rope, orcable may be used, though I prefer the use ofchains, as they wind more freely and readily upon the said drums.

The operation of my swing-actuating mechanism thus described willreadily be understood and,briefiy stated, is as follows: When the swingmechanism is in its normal condition, the chains are properly wound uponthe said drums and the spring 21 is practically relieved of all tension.When the child or other occupant isseated in the swing-seat 29, hisweight will constantly and uniformly tend to unwind the saidsuspending-chains against the tension of the said coil-spring 21, andthe engagement of the detent 18 with the ratchetwheel 10 prevents therecoil of the drive-wheel 7. The unwinding of the said chains byrotating the shaft 6 actuates the entire clocktrain by means of thedrive-whee17, which engages the pinion 9, thereby actuating the escapewheel 8. As the said pawl 14 stands normally in position for engagementwith the escape-wheel and the holding-pawl 11 is normally out ofengagement therewith at each forward oscillation of the said arm 22 thepawl 14 will positively engage the escapewheel, and at each rearwardoscillation it will gradually release its engagement therewith, and theholding-pawl 11 will in turn form a positive engagement therewith, beingalternately elevated by the engagement of the lug 24 with the saidspring 12, which thereby oscillates the said shaft 3, on which the pawl11 is rigidly fixed or integral therewith. It will be seen that the saidspringpressed pawl 16 will facilitate the escapement by making it moregradual and more nearly noiseless. It is obvious, therefore, that underthe weight of the occupant my swing mechanism will be automatic in itsoperation until the said chains have been entirely unwound, which, inactual practice, maybe rcgu lated at about fifteen or twenty minutes.When the swing mechanism has run down or when the said chains areunwound, it can again be readily set for operation by simply relievingthe said chains of the weight of the occupant, when the said drums underthe tension of the coil-spring 21 will automatically rewind the saidchains thereon.

It is apparent that my invention can be equally adapted for infants,children, or adults, and can be employed with equal facih ity in thenursery, in public parks, or in private grounds or yards by providing aproper support therefor.

Having thus described my invention and the manner of employing the same,what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. A swing actuatingmechanism, consisting of a clock train, mounted as shown in supportingbrackets, an escape wheel having a series of peripheral pins in lieu ofteeth, a pendulum arbor having an engaging pawl for the escape wheel andan actuating lug for the holding pawl, a holding pawl 11 fixed on therock shaft 3 and adapted for an alternate engagement with the saidescape-wheel, a

rock-shaft 3 having an actuating spring 12 for the purpose specified, apair of winding drums rigidly mounted upon the extendedv ends of thedriving-wheel shaft and provided with suspending chains or cablesmounted in the slotted ends of the oscillating arbor-bar,allsubstantially as described.

2. In a swing actuating mechanism, the combination of the supportingbrackets 1 united by the rods 2, a clock train having an escape-wheelwith a series of parallel peripheral pins for the purpose specified, apendulum arbor comprising a rock-shaft having a central depending armprovided with a slotted guide ICC IIO

bar for the seat supporting chains an oblique 29, and theseat-supporting chains arranged lug to actuate the holding pawl, and apawl to as shown, all substantially as and for the purengage theescape-wheel and provided with a pose described.

spring pressed detent, as described, a rockshaft 3 provided with a rigidholding pawl 11 State of Indiana, this 17th day of January, for theescape wheel and an actuating spring A. D. 1895.

12 adapted to engage the lug 24 on the rock shaft 4, and a pair ofwinding drums rigidly fixed on the ends of the shaft 6 and provided withthe chains or cables 27 mounted as shown and carrying at their lowerends a swing-seat JOSEPH A. BRUNNER.

Witnesses:

WALTER G. BURNS, LOUIS H. GooKE.

Signed by me, at Fort Wayne, Allen county, 15 I

